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Saturday, December 10, 2011

I am wondering on which occasions you use 'ki' in Creole. And when you are to say something like "He is the one that helps us" Do you use ki for 'that'? And is 'ke' also used for 'that'?

We are discouraged from using the relative pronoun "ke" in Creole.
You do not need to use "ke" unless you're speaking French.
This does not mean that Creole speakers won't attempt to use it.

Examples:
The dress that you bought is pretty.
Best way to say it: Rad ou achte a bèl.
What some will say: Rad ke ou achte a bèl.

This is the man that I saw.
Best way to say it: Sa se mesye mwen te wè a.
What some will say: Sa se mesye ke m te wè a.

He told me that he loves me.
Best way to say it:  Li di m li renmen m.
What some will say: Li di m ke l renmen m.

She didn't tell me that she was pregnant.
Best way to say it:  Li pa't di m li te ansent.
What some will say: Li pa't di m ke l te ansent.


The relative pronoun "ki" is used usually when it acts like a subject in a sentence.
Example:
The house that burned down was new.
Kay ki te boule a te nèf.

The girl who has the yellow dress is my daughter.
Ti fi ki gen rad jòn nan se piti fi mwen.

A man who has no eyes is blind.
Yon nèg ki pa gen zye avèg.

A house that is divided cannot stand.
Yon kay ki divize pa ka kanpe.

Foods that contain a lot of proteins are healthy.
Manje ki gen anpil pwoteyin bon pou lasante.

Rekative pronoun "ki"
Relative pronouns "ki" and "ke"
Ask me anything

by the time

by the timedistans or distans pou, tan pou, anvan,

1. By the time she woke up, I was already gone.
    Distans li reveye, m te gentan ale.

2. By the time I arrived in Haiti, she had already passed.
    Distans m rive Ayiti, li te gentan mouri.

3. By the time the police got to the store, the burglars had already fled.
    Tan pou lapolis te rive nan magazen an, volè yo te deja chape.

4. Before we could take refuge under the table, the roof of the house had already come down on us.
    Tan pou nou te pran refij anba tab la, twati kay la te deja tonbe sou nou.

5. I will be waiting for you by the time you get home.
    M ava ap tann ou anvan ou rive lakay.
    or
    M'ava ap tann ou distans pou w rive lakay.

6. By the time she was fifteen, she was already working.
     l te gen kenzan, li te gentan ap travay.
    Anvan l te gen kenzan li te gentan ap travay..
    or
    Distans li te gen kenzan, li te gentan ap travay.

Friday, December 9, 2011

"Jèn kore jèn" What is kore?

koreto anchor, to support, to back up, to stand behind

Pa take pòt la m ap toune

take (pronounced tah-kay) to lock

The Creole words klete, take, and kadnase may be used to translate the verb: to lock, to secure.

Usually take would mean to lock with a latchKlete would mean to lock with a key.  And kadnase would mean to lock with a padlock.

Pa take pòt la. M'ap tounen.
Don't lock the door. I'll be back.

All is well / I'm fine / It's all good

I'm fine.
Mwen byen.


I'm very well.
Mwen trè byen.


We're doing well.
Nou byen.


All is well with me.
Tout bagay byen avè m.


Things are well.
Bagay yo ap mache byen.


I'll be fine.
Ma va byen.
Ma degaje m.


It's all good.
Tout bagay byen.

"Byen" as an adverb and as a verb

I need to differentiate between a sheep (older) and a lamb (younger). The Bible uses mouton and brebi interchangeably for both. Ideas?

I had learned that brebi (from French brebis) is the female of mouton.

Mouton → sheep
brebi → sheep (female)
anyo → lamb (young sheep)

kitchen cupboard

etajè

Ask me anything

I would have been driving at that time if I had not lost my keys.

I would have been... → Mwen ta ap .... (not contracted), Mwen t'ap .... (contracted)

 Mwen  | ta         | ap kondwi                | lè sa            |
     I      | would  | have been driving | at that time |

si | mwen  | pa            | te     | pèdi  | kle mwen |
if  | I           | negative | past | lose  | my keys  |


 
 I would have been driving at that time if I had not lost my keys.
Mwen ta ap kondwi lè sa si m pa't pèdi kle m.

glove

glove - gan

"gentan" and "deja" are synonyms

Already → gentan, deja

Examples.

They're already here.
Yo gentan la.
Yo deja la.

I've already bought one.
Mwen gentan achte youn.
Mwen deja achte youn.

We're already done.
Nou gentan fini.
Nou deja fini.

How do you say "dear"?

Dear
monchè (masculin)
machè (feminine)
chè
cheri or ti cheri

My dear
cheri mwen
monchè
or
machè

My dear child,
Pitit cheri mwen,

My dear Julie,
Julie cheri*, or
Chè Julie,

My dear Patrick,
Patrick cheri  or
Chè Patrick,

Dear mom
Manman cheri or
Chè manman,

*If someone were to call me dear, I would prefer "Mandaly cheri" over "Chè Mandaly".  The latter sounds French. The first one is definitely more endearing

january

May all your dreams be fulfilled ?May your wishes be fulfilled this new year. (Creole)

fulfill → akonpli, reyalize
May... → Se pou

May all your dreams be fulfilled this new year.
Se pou tout rèv ou yo reyalize nan nouvo ane sa.

May your wishes be fulfilled this new year.
Se pou dezi ou yo akonpli nan nouvo ane sa.

nose (place your finger on your nose) (Creole)

nose → nen
nosy → jouda

Mete |   dwèt  |  ou    | sou    |  nen  |  ou.   |  (uncontracted)
Met   |   dwèt  |  ou    | sou    | nen   |  w.     |  (contracted)
Put     |  finger   | your   | over   | nose  | your. |

Place your finger on your nose.
Met dwèt ou sou nen w.

we love you

We love you.
Nou renmen w.